Number of inactive ‘workers’ rises as jobless fall

THOUSANDS of people in Scotland are economically inactive, with fewer people in work and an even bigger drop in those looking for work, official figures show.

The number of people aged 16 to 64 in employment fell by more than 11,000 to 2.61 million in the three months to June compared with the previous quarter, according to the Office for National Statistics.

But the number of people registered as unemployed – those actively looking for work – fell by 13,000 to 155,000.

There were 24,000 more economically inactive people – such as the sick and disabled, those in early retirement, family carers and jobless students – rising to 731,000.

Figures for the full year show that employment in Scotland rose by 28,000, unemployment fell by 19,000 and economic inactivity fell by 6,000 since June 2014.

Average earnings fell slightly in the three months to June to £556 a week.

But that is 3.1 per cent higher than June 2014 with Scotland being the highest earning area of the UK outside London, the south east and east.

But the annual rise in men’s earnings (4.1 per cent) to £614 a week outstripped the rise in women’s (1.1 per cent) earnings to £474 a week, with men continuing to earn over one-fifth more than women.

Scotland Office minister Lord Andrew Dunlop said: “Today’s figures show unemployment falling and wages continuing to rise well above inflation. This shows we are working to ensure everyone benefits from a growing economy as we build a country based on securit y and opportunity.”